Obituary of Hettie Gilliland Buckley

Hettie Gilliland Buckley, 95, departed this life on the morning of November 1, 2013. She was born in Charlotte County VA, in the Coles Ferry Community. She was the wife of Thomas J. Buckley, Jr. for 52 wonderful years. They were blessed with 3 children and their spouses, Jane Buckley and Thomas L. Lively; Thomas J. and Lynda Buckley; and Robert W. and Joanne Buckley, all of the Richmond area. She had 9 grandchildren: Jane's daughters, Krista Mobley and Jessica English and 2 step-children Erin and Zachary Lively; Tom's 2 daughters Cynthia Buckley and Jennifer B. Baldwin; and Bob's 3 children, Lauren Fenn, Trevor Randolph Buckley, and Hanna Elizabeth Buckley. She also had 10 great grandchildren. She was the daughter of the late Jim Bates Gilliland and Annie Palmer Gilliland. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, James Baylor Gilliland and William Carroll Gilliland; also by 3 sisters, Laura Gilliland Carey, Mable Gilliland Derbin and Edith Gilliland Doss. She is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Gilliland Johnson and 2 brothers John N. Gilliland and Wilson Lee Gilliland, all of Lynchburg. Hettie worked for the Lynchburg Public Schools as a secretary, First Baptist Church as secretary to the Educational Director, and retired from Horner Barksdale and Company. She was a faithful member of Frist Baptist Church for 77 years. She joined the Church at the age of 18 and immediately became involved in the Mission Program, teaching children in Sunday School, and the Baptist Training Union for older children. She lived by her faith and made it her life's work to spread the gospel of her Christian beliefs. Visitation will be held on Monday, November 4, from 7 to 9 pm at the Diuguid Waterlick Chapel. A celebration of her life will be held at the same location on Tuesday, November 5th at 2:30pm. Interment will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery on Fort Avenue. A reception for family and friends will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church.